Recipes
My favorite ingredient isn’t the jar of saffron, the olive oil from Italy, nor the four-ingredient oat milk I use every day. It’s the jar of pistachio cream sitting in my fridge, waiting for its next recipe. I’m convinced this one ingredient turns everything it touches into pure luxury. I’ll drizzle a little onto vanilla ice cream, stir some into my morning oatmeal or just eat a cheeky spoonful right out of the jar; it’s heaven.
Pistachio cream is a smooth, spreadable confection made by blending pistachios, sugar, oil and milk or white chocolate. It’s not to be confused with pistachio butter, an unsweetened nut paste made with just pistachios and salt. Think of pistachio butter as peanut butter and pistachio cream as the green version of Nutella—it’s sweeter, more spreadable and decidedly more decadent.
I couldn’t have been more thrilled when the ingredient went viral alongside Dubai chocolate, a chocolate bar filled with toasted kataifi (a finely shredded pastry), tahini and pistachio cream. It sparked a wave of creative recipes with pistachio cream that lean into its rich, nutty flavor. A healthy dollop of sweet pistachio cream elevates everything from unexpected tiramisu variations to Sunday-morning cinnamon rolls and no-bake desserts like pistachio cannoli pie. When I’m really trying to impress, I’ll use it to make an iced latte that’s gorgeous enough to be a fancy coffee shop drink.
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Recipes
Pistachio Tiramisu
From the Recipe Creator:
This pistachio tiramisu is another delicious pistachio dessert that’s perfect for fancier meals and get-togethers. The cocoa on top makes it reminiscent of Dubai chocolate—just without the crunch. —Linda Finn, Louisville, Mississippi
I’ve seen a lot of fun twists on tiramisu over the past few years, but this one might be my favorite. It layers espresso-soaked ladyfingers in between a pistachio cream and mascarpone filling. It’s all dusted with cocoa powder (as is traditional for classic tiramisu) and finished with a healthy amount of crushed pistachios.
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Recipes
Chocolate Pistachio Cupcakes with Pistachio Buttercream
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate cupcakes have a decadent pistachio cream filling and a luscious pistachio buttercream topper. If you love pistachios, you’ll gobble these cupcakes up. —Ellen Moore, Springfield, New Hampshire
Cupcakes are making a huge comeback, especially when trendy ingredients are at the helm. Here, we fill each chocolate cupcake with pure pistachio cream, then whip up a traditional buttercream with a little more pistachio cream to boot. For anyone looking for a big hit of nutty flavor, this one doesn’t hold back.
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Recipes
Pistachio Cinnamon Rolls
From the Recipe Creator:
These pistachio cinnamon rolls are nutty and sweet, thanks to chopped pistachios in the filling and pistachio cream in the topping. I like to add mini chocolate chips for an extra decadent filling! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I personally wouldn’t be able to sleep if I knew pistachio cinnamon rolls were waiting for me when I woke up. These cinnamon rolls have pistachios in every layer. The filling includes a generous amount of crushed pistachios, and each baked cinnamon roll gets a healthy dollop of pistachio cream-infused cream cheese frosting.
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Recipes
Pistachio Crepes
From the Recipe Creator:
These crepes have a creamy, whipped pistachio filling that you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. However, it’s even better with the chocolate drizzle and strawberry topping! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hosting an elegant brunch? I can’t think of a better way to make a good impression than with pistachio-cream-stuffed crepes topped with fresh strawberries and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Stir together the crepe batter the night before and keep it in the fridge so you’re ready to knock these out just before guests arrive.
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Recipes
Pistachio Cannoli Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
If you love pistachio cannoli, you’ll obsess over our pistachio cannoli pie. It even has a crushed-up cannoli shell crust! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This no-bake cannoli pie is for anyone who can’t decide between the chocolate chip or pistachio cannolis at an Italian bakery. It combines the two for the best of both worlds. The pie crust is made with crushed graham crackers and cannoli shells, perfect for holding the pistachio cream-infused ricotta and cream cheese filling. Mini chocolate chips are dispersed throughout for the ideal finish.
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Recipes
Dubai Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats
From the Recipe Creator:
These layered Cocoa Krispies have a filling just like a Dubai chocolate bar: with pistachio cream, kataifi and pistachios. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
Rice Krispies variations abound, but a Dubai chocolate-style one has to be the most decadent one in existence. Cocoa Krispies get the usual melted butter and marshmallow treatment, then are sandwiched with a truly indulgent filling of pistachio cream, toasted kataifi, chopped pistachios and whole mini marshmallows.
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Recipes
Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Parfaits
From the Recipe Creator:
Dubai chocolate strawberries are a viral internet sensation, and our version of the trendy dessert features a simple three-ingredient pistachio mousse, kataifi, chocolate sauce and plenty of fresh strawberries. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Sure, pistachio cream on its own is a perfect flavoring for yogurt, but this one deepens the toasted, nutty flavors by adding a bit of tahini to the mix. Whipped together, it tastes like a pistachio-tahini yogurt mousse. Yum! Add in layers of fresh strawberries, chocolate sauce, pistachios and toasted kataifi, and this one is a real winner.
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Recipes
Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This dessert takes the flavors and textures of a Dubai chocolate bar and turns them into dreamy, creamy cheesecake bars. Even if you haven’t tried Dubai chocolate before, this recipe is worth a go! —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
When the weekend calls for a baking project, pull up this recipe for Dubai chocolate cheesecake bars. Our whole team was so excited when we published this recipe that everyone made a batch for whatever get-together was next on the calendar. It was an unanimous crowd favorite, even when the Dubai chocolate trend came and went.
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Recipes
Dubai Chocolate Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This Dubai chocolate cake recipe is inspired by the trending Dubai chocolate bars. Two layers of moist chocolate cake are filled with a mixture of toasted kataifi, tahini and pistachio cream, just like the chocolate bar. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
The stories say that the Greek gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus indulged in ambrosia for dessert, but that’s only because they didn’t know about this Dubai chocolate cake. Two fluffy, moist chocolate cake layers sandwich the pistachio cream, tahini and toasted kataifi filling. It’s frosted with a lick-the-bowl-clean chocolate frosting and finished with plenty of chopped pistachios on top.
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Recipes
Dubai Chocolate Latte
From the Recipe Creator:
This Dubai chocolate latte recipe is based on the viral chocolate bar. Specialty coffee lovers are in for a treat with this recipe that features a nutty cold foam and a crunchy topping! —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
If baking isn’t your forte, making this indulgent latte might be more in your repertoire. All you have to do is make a pistachio cream and tahini mixture, spread half of it around the glass, and turn the other half into a cold foam. Mix it with a freshly brewed shot of espresso, and your morning will be off to an incredible start.
Recipes Recipes with Pistachio Cream
What can I do with a jar of pistachio cream?
There are several quick ways to use pistachio cream. I like to drizzle it over chocolate or vanilla ice cream, spread it on toast or croissants, or mix it into mascarpone for a decadent dessert dip for fresh strawberries. It’s also a quick flavor enhancer for buttercream frosting or as a filling for macarons.
If you have a whole jar of pistachio cream, I recommend using it to make chocolate-pistachio cupcakes, crepes, cheesecake bars, chocolate cake and Dubai chocolate Rice Krispies. These recipes all use 1 cup or more of pistachio cream. If the jar is about half full, you’ll have enough to make our pistachio tiramisu, cannoli pie or Dubai chocolate strawberry parfaits. With just a measly 2 tablespoons left in your jar, whip up our Dubai chocolate latte.
Does pistachio cream have to be refrigerated?
If you haven’t opened the jar of pistachio cream yet, it does not need to be refrigerated. However, you should stash it in the fridge after opening. Let it sit on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes before using it so it softens to a spreadable consistency.
For homemade pistachio cream, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It contains dairy, and you most likely didn’t add any preservatives to make it shelf-stable.
What flavors go well with pistachio cream?
Pistachio cream pairs well with other decadent, sweet ingredients, most notably chocolate. This duo kicked off the Dubai chocolate trend, which first launched pistachio cream into the American mainstream. Besides chocolate, pistachio cream is lovely with citrus fruits, creamy ingredients like mascarpone or pastry cream, and fruits like strawberries and raspberries.